Definition: port

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

port
     adj : on the left-hand side of a vessel or aircraft when facing
           forward; "the port side" [syn: larboard, left]
           [ant: starboard]
     n 1: a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise
          can enter or leave a country
     2: sweet dark-red dessert wine originally from Portugal [syn: port
        wine]
     3: an opening (in a wall or ship or armored vehicle) for firing
        through [syn: embrasure, porthole]
     4: the left side of a ship or aircraft to someone facing the
        bow or nose [syn: larboard] [ant: starboard]
     5: (computer science) computer circuit consisting of the
        hardware and associated circuitry that links one device
        with another (especially a computer and a hard disk drive
        or other peripherals) [syn: interface]
     v 1: transfer data from one computer to another via a cable that
          links connecting ports
     2: put or turn on the left side, of a ship; "port the helm"
     3: bring to port; "the captain ported the ship at night"
     4: land at or reach a port; "The ship finally ported"
     5: turn or go to the port or left side, of a ship; "The big
        ship was slowly porting"
     6: carry, bear, convey, or bring; "The small canoe could be
        ported easily"
     7: carry or hold with both hands diagonally across the body,
        esp. of weapons; "port a rifle"
     8: drink port; "We were porting all night in the club"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Induction \In*duc"tion\, n. [L. inductio: cf. F. induction. See
   Induct.]
   1. The act or process of inducting or bringing in;
      introduction; entrance; beginning; commencement.

            I know not you; nor am I well pleased to make this
            time, as the affair now stands, the induction of
            your acquaintance.                    --Beau. & Fl.

            These promises are fair, the parties sure, And our
            induction dull of prosperous hope.    --Shak.

   2. An introduction or introductory scene, as to a play; a
      preface; a prologue. [Obs.]

            This is but an induction: I will d?aw The curtains
            of the tragedy hereafter.             --Massinger.

   3. (Philos.) The act or process of reasoning from a part to a
      whole, from particulars to generals, or from the
      individual to the universal; also, the result or inference
      so reached.

            Induction is an inference drawn from all the
            particulars.                          --Sir W.
                                                  Hamilton.

            Induction is the process by which we conclude that
            what is true of certain individuals of a class, is
            true of the whole class, or that what is true at
            certain times will be true in similar circumstances
            at all times.                         --J. S. Mill.

   4. The introduction of a clergyman into a benefice, or of an
      official into a office, with appropriate acts or
      ceremonies; the giving actual possession of an
      ecclesiastical living or its temporalities.

   5. (Math.) A process of demonstration in which a general
      truth is gathered from an examination of particular cases,
      one of which is known to be true, the examination being so
      conducted that each case is made to depend on the
      preceding one; -- called also successive induction.

   6. (Physics) The property by which one body, having
      electrical or magnetic polarity, causes or induces it in
      another body without direct contact; an impress of
      electrical or magnetic force or condition from one body on
      another without actual contact.

   Electro-dynamic induction, the action by which a variable
      or interrupted current of electricity excites another
      current in a neighboring conductor forming a closed
      circuit.

   Electro-magnetic induction, the influence by which an
      electric current produces magnetic polarity in certain
      bodies near or around which it passes.

   Electro-static induction, the action by which a body
      possessing a charge of statical electricity develops a
      charge of statical electricity of the opposite character
      in a neighboring body.

   Induction coil, an apparatus producing induced currents of
      great intensity. It consists of a coil or helix of stout
      insulated copper wire, surrounded by another coil of very
      fine insulated wire, in which a momentary current is
      induced, when a current (as from a voltaic battery),
      passing through the inner coil, is made, broken, or
      varied. The inner coil has within it a core of soft iron,
      and is connected at its terminals with a condenser; --
      called also inductorium, and Ruhmkorff's coil.

   Induction pipe, port, or valve, a pipe, passageway, or
      valve, for leading or admitting a fluid to a receiver, as
      steam to an engine cylinder, or water to a pump.

   Magnetic induction, the action by which magnetic polarity
      is developed in a body susceptible to magnetic effects
      when brought under the influence of a magnet.

   Magneto-electric induction, the influence by which a magnet
      excites electric currents in closed circuits.

   Logical induction, (Philos.), an act or method of reasoning
      from all the parts separately to the whole which they
      constitute, or into which they may be united collectively;
      the operation of discovering and proving general
      propositions; the scientific method.

   Philosophical induction, the inference, or the act of
      inferring, that what has been observed or established in
      respect to a part, individual, or species, may, on the
      ground of analogy, be affirmed or received of the whole to
      which it belongs. This last is the inductive method of
      Bacon. It ascends from the parts to the whole, and forms,
      from the general analogy of nature, or special
      presumptions in the case, conclusions which have greater
      or less degrees of force, and which may be strengthened or
      weakened by subsequent experience and experiment. It
      relates to actual existences, as in physical science or
      the concerns of life. Logical induction is founded on the
      necessary laws of thought; philosophical induction, on the
      interpretation of the indications or analogy of nature.
Port \Port\, n. [AS. port, L. portus: cf. F. port. See Farm,
   v., Ford, and 1st, 3d, & 4h Port.]
   1. A place where ships may ride secure from storms; a
      sheltered inlet, bay, or cove; a harbor; a haven. Used
      also figuratively.
Port \Port\, n. [F. porte, L. porta, akin to portus; cf. AS.
   porte, fr. L. porta. See Port a harbor, and cf. Porte.]
   1. A passageway; an opening or entrance to an inclosed place;
      a gate; a door; a portal. [Archaic]

            Him I accuse The city ports by this hath entered.
                                                  --Shak.

            Form their ivory port the cherubim Forth issuing.
                                                  --Milton.

   2. (Naut.) An opening in the side of a vessel; an embrasure
      through which cannon may be discharged; a porthole; also,
      the shutters which close such an opening.

            Her ports being within sixteen inches of the water.
                                                  --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.

   3. (Mach.) A passageway in a machine, through which a fluid,
      as steam, water, etc., may pass, as from a valve to the
      interior of the cylinder of a steam engine; an opening in
      a valve seat, or valve face.

   Air port, Bridle port, etc. See under Air, Bridle,
      etc.

   Port bar (Naut.), a bar to secure the ports of a ship in a
      gale.

   Port lid (Naut.), a lid or hanging for closing the
      portholes of a vessel.

   Steam port, & Exhaust port (Steam Engine), the ports of
      the cylinder communicating with the valve or valves, for
      the entrance or exit of the steam, respectively.
Port \Port\, n. [From Oporto, in Portugal, i. e., ? porto the
   port, L. portus. See Port harbor.]
   A dark red or purple astringent wine made in Portugal. It
   contains a large percentage of alcohol.
Port \Port\, v. t. (Naut.)
   To turn or put to the left or larboard side of a ship; --
   said of the helm, and used chiefly in the imperative, as a
   command; as, port your helm.
Port \Port\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ported; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Porting.] [F. porter, L. portare to carry. See Port
   demeanor.]
   1. To carry; to bear; to transport. [Obs.]

            They are easily ported by boat into other shires.
                                                  --Fuller.

   2. (Mil.) To throw, as a musket, diagonally across the body,
      with the lock in front, the right hand grasping the small
      of the stock, and the barrel sloping upward and crossing
      the point of the left shoulder; as, to port arms.

            Began to hem him round with ported spears. --Milton.

   Port arms, a position in the manual of arms, executed as
      above.
Port \Port\, n. [F. port, fr. porter to carry, L. portare, prob.
   akin to E. fare, v. See Port harbor, and cf. Comport,
   Export, Sport.]
   The manner in which a person bears himself; deportment;
   carriage; bearing; demeanor; hence, manner or style of
   living; as, a proud port. --Spenser.

         And of his port as meek as is a maid.    --Chaucer.

         The necessities of pomp, grandeur, and a suitable port
         in the world.                            --South.
Port \Port\, n. [Etymology uncertain.] (Naut.)
   The larboard or left side of a ship (looking from the stern
   toward the bow); as, a vessel heels to port. See Note under
   Larboard. Also used adjectively.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10)

port

   1. <networking> A logical channel or channel endpoint in a
   communications system.  The Transmission Control Protocol
   and User Datagram Protocol transport layer protocols used
   on Ethernet use port numbers to distinguish between
   (demultiplex) different logical channels on the same network
   interface on the same computer.

   Each application program has a unique port number associated
   with it, defined in /etc/services or the Network Information
   Service "services" database.  Some protocols, e.g. telnet
   and HTTP (which is actually a special form of telnet) have
   default ports specified as above but can use other ports as
   well.

   Some port numbers are defined in RFC 1700, divided into
   well-known ports and registered ports.

   2.  To translate or modify
   software to run on a different platform, or the results of
   doing so.  The portability of the software determines how
   easy it is to port.

   3.  An imperative language descended from Zed
   from Waterloo Microsystems (now Hayes Canada) ca. 1979.

   ["Port Language" document in the Waterloo Port Development
   System].

   (2002-06-19)